Choosing to Spend for Value

I am thrilled with the progress my family has made as we focus on making mindful decisions about where our money is going.

I don't mean to leave this blog by the wayside, but I am a bit busier these days.

Here's a status update...

I have taken on a full-time job, which is a wonderful source of additional income.

I have made some choices that have slowed down our debt payoff snowball, and I am 100% comfortable with those decisions. Here they are...

1. The main reason I took the full-time job was to afford to pay private school tuition for my children. So, although I make a salary now, we are not "rolling in dough," and that is fine. I don't wince one bit at the check I write each month. And, I am FRUGAL. So, that tells you the importance of this educational choice for our family.

2. Last summer, we did some wheeling and dealing and bought my husband a new vehicle. We pay way more than the monthly payment, and he'll drive that for 10 or 11 years. So, I felt solid about that choice. :-)

3. I've been focusing on stockpiling for savings lately. So, although we're paying extra on the new vehicle, we are not aggressively paying off bills at the moment.

Current Debts:
Car Loan: 15K
Student Loan: 16K
House: 91K

I'm setting some new goals for this coming year, now that we have a good stockpile in savings.

I'd like to pay off the car loan within 12 months, which we can definitely do. So, I'll post updates on that as I make additional payments. That'll re-energize the blog and getting me moving again towards ZERO debts of any kind.

The Freedom to Choose

As I see and read the news of how the economy and the government budget cuts are affecting jobs across the country, I am grateful for the position I'm in...not my professional position, but my financial one.

If I were to be laid off, I would be ok. I wouldn't HAVE to run out and get another job. I wouldn't HAVE to do anything but choose what will work for my family.

Why? Because I spent the past few years making focused decisions to reduce my family's cost of living. Rather than upgrade to bigger, "supposedly better," pricier cars and house, we remained frugal.

And, I am ever grateful for the position we are in at this time.